Joe Otto is a graduate student of American history and Hudson Family Research Fellow at the University of Oklahoma. For dissertation research Joe studies Midwestern environmental history – the relationship between commercial agriculture, stream channelization, and wetland removal. Directing his research is Dr. Kathleen Brosnan, the Travis Chair of Modern American History. Joe has presented research at past meetings of the Agricultural History Society and the Northern Great Plains History Conference. His work is also supported by a research grant from the State Historical Society of Iowa. Prior to attending Oklahoma, Joe earned degrees from Appalachian State University (MA-History-2012), East Carolina University (MA-Teaching-2009), and Iowa State University (BS-History-2007). Joe currently serves the Midwestern History Association as Secretary and Webmaster. He is also volunteers as annual meeting event staff for the Western Historical Association. His personal interests include canoeing, gardening, retro-video gaming, and rare book collecting.
Master’s thesis:
Subject to Overflow: The History of Drainage Districts in Jasper County, Iowa, 1908-1915
Midwestern History Association
